Chapter 174

"Auntie, you've misunderstood." Evelyn Sinclair's fingers tightened around her bag strap, knuckles turning white.

Mrs. Ashford scoffed and snatched the bag from her, tossing it to the bodyguard in the front seat.

"Get rid of the child."

"This is my baby!" Evelyn's voice trembled. "You have no right to decide his fate."

"You think you can secretly carry an Ashford heir?" Mrs. Ashford's eyes darkened with malice.

The car sped faster, the scenery outside blurring. Evelyn shielded her abdomen, nails digging into her palms.

"Auntie, I'll leave Kingsbury tomorrow. I'll never bother the Ashfords again."

"Lies!" Mrs. Ashford snapped. "Someone heard you plotting to elope with Julian!"

Evelyn's blood ran cold. Melissa Lee.

"It's not Julian's child," she whispered. "What you're doing is illegal."

"Illegal?" Mrs. Ashford sneered. "We'll see how brave you are when we arrive."

As the car headed toward the outskirts, Evelyn stared out the window, her heart pounding.

"Auntie, please spare my baby." Her voice softened suddenly. "He's all I have left."

"You should've thought of that sooner." Mrs. Ashford lifted her chin triumphantly. "If you'd waited until after Julian's marriage, I might've let you live."

Evelyn lowered her lashes, shadows hiding the ice in her gaze.

"Please..."

"Too late!" Mrs. Ashford raised her hand—

A cold blade pressed against her throat.

"Tell the driver to turn around." Evelyn's voice was glacial.

The bodyguard turned, meeting her sharp stare, and instinctively stepped back.

Mrs. Ashford's phone rang.

"Answer it. Put it on speaker." The blade pressed closer.

"Julian! Help—" Mrs. Ashford's cry was cut off by a calm reply: "Stop the car. I'm behind you."

When the door opened, Julian Ashford saw—

Evelyn gripping his mother, a combat knife steady at her throat. Her gaze was razor-sharp, radiating lethal intent.

"Step back three meters," she ordered.

Julian immediately retreated, his voice gentle. "Evelyn, it's over."

She maneuvered Mrs. Ashford out of the car. Just as the bodyguard reached for his phone, Julian lunged forward—

He yanked his mother away, then shoved her toward the bodyguard, grabbing Evelyn's hand and sprinting.

"Traitor!" Mrs. Ashford's scream faded behind them.

The Maybach roared down the road, Evelyn's grip on the steering wheel bone-white.

"Evelyn, stop!" Julian called for the third time before seizing the wheel.

Tires screeched. Evelyn collapsed against the steering wheel, shaking.

Julian pulled her into his arms, feeling her tears soak through his shirt.

"We're leaving now," he murmured into her hair. "Far away from all of this."

Evelyn lifted tear-filled eyes. "Our passports are in the nightstand... Sophie's too..."

Julian's expression brightened. "Wait for me at the airport. I'll get Sophie."

Three hours later, Kingsbury International Airport.

Evelyn barely ended a call when a group of men in black suits advanced toward her...

[To Be Continued]